Automobile spring-frame.



S. C. GORDON.

AUTOMOBILE- SPRING FRAME.

APEUCATLON mgp JULY 24. 1915.

1,205,526. Patented Nov. 21,191

UNITED STATES PATENT 'orrion. 4

SAMUEL o. coupon, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMOBILE SPRING-FRAME.

Speeification of Letters Patent Application filed July 24, %15. ,Serial.No. 41,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. GORDON,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at is a specification.

Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Spring-Frames, ofwhich the following This invention relates tothe supporting.

frames of vehicles, and has special reference to spring frames forautomobiles.

The primary object of this inventlon is to provide a supporting framefor motor vehicles which will be easy riding and eliminate the shocksand jars which are now incident'to the use of most of such vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting frame'in'which the center of gravity will be below the points of suspension sothat sharp turns may be made safely and quickly.

Other incidental objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionof the same proceeds, and the invention resides in certain novelfeatures which will be particularly pointed out in the claims followingthe description.

The invention is-illustrated in the accom panying drawings,'in whichFigure 1 is aplan view of so much-of an automobile frame as is necessaryfor a clear understanding of my improvements: Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line Of 1. i

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 1 axle 5 of the vehicle. Therear ends of the side bars 3 are connected by a transversesemi-elliptical spring 6, the intermediate portion of which is securedto the apex of an arch 7 having its ends secured to the side bars 1. I

The front axle, spring and steering gear, it will be noted, are carriedby the supplemental frame and, consequently, will not be frame. When thesteering'wheels strike an obstruction, which tends to move the front endof the supplemental frame upwardly,

the said frame will swing about its. pivotal connection with the mainframe and exert Patented Nov. 21', 1916.

' affected by the movements of. the main a downward pressure through itsrear end which will tend to depress the main frame so that the body ofthe vehicle willremain approximately in the same horizontal plane at alltimes, and the comfort of the occupant of-the vehicle will be promotedand ars and shocks to the motor and transmisslon gearing will beminimized;

It is to be particularly noted that the pivots or suspension poi.nts.8by which the supplemental frame is secured to the'main. frame are abovethe center of-gravity of. the

vehicle, so that, when the vehicle is turning a sharp corner, thetendency of the body to move in a straight line or swing outwardly willbe counteracted and the lower portion of the body will tend to swingoutwardly while the upper portion thereof .will tend to swing inwardly,thereby exerting a downward pressureupon the inner wheels.

which will hold them to the road and .con-

sequently prevent overturning of the1ve-' hicle.

supplemental coiled springs 9 which extend between the sides ofthe'frame 1 and the i inner ends of the frame 3. These springs increasethe easy riding qualities of the car,

tuted for the frames now in common use at a slight expense. y

In practice,.the vehicle mounted upon my improved frame will be foundto. possess superior riding qualities, and as the shocks and jars towhich it is subjected are mini mized, the life of the vehicle will beprolonged.

- Having thus described: the invention, what is claimed as new is s 1.In'a vehicle, the combination of a-main frame, a supplemental frame.pivotally j '85. I have found it advantageous to employ I mountedbetween its ends upon and above the front end of the main frame, an axleI mental frame, a spring connecting the axle disposed below. the frontendof the supple 7 with the front end of the supplemental frame, aspring havingits ends secured to 90 particularly on arough road at highspeed.

My improved supporting frame is ex-- ceedingly simple in theconstruction and ar-' rangement of its partsand may be substi:

the rear end of the supplemental frame, and

a rigid connection between the center of said spring and the main frame.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame, standards erected uponthe outer end of the main' frame, a rigid arch connecting the sides ofthe main frame in spaced relation to the end of the same, a supplementalframe pivoted between its ends to the up per ends of the said standards,an axle disposed below the front end of the supplemental frame, a springconnecting the axle with the supplemental frame, an elliptical springdisposed between and secured to the inner ends of the supplemental frameand having its central portion secured to the said rigid arch, and coilsprings extending between the sides of the supplemental frame and thesubjacent sides .of the main frame.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 4

SAMUEL C. GORDON [1.01

